Archive for November, 2010

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Congress Approves Month-Long Medicare Physician Payment Patch

November 30, 2010

As the post-election “lame duck” session of Congress resumes, one of the first actions of the U.S. House of Representatives this week was to approve an AOA-backed measure which provides a month-long reprieve for optometrists and other physicians from threatened cuts in Medicare physician payments.

Late Monday, by voice vote, the U.S. House approved the Physician Payment and Therapy Relief Act of 2010 (HR 5712), which provides $1 billion to delay – for one month – a massive 23% cut in Medicare reimbursement rates for optometrists and other physicians, which was scheduled to take effect December 1.  Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Eye on Washington | Leave a Comment »

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Billing surgical codes: With or without visit?

November 29, 2010

Edited by Chuck Brownlow, O.D., AOA CodingToday and Medical Records consultant

Optometrists have been doing procedures for decades that are that are listed in the Surgery section of Current Procedural Terminology© (CPT). Among those services are the removal of foreign bodies from the eye and adnexa, correction of trichiasis, closure of punctum by plug, etc. As is true of all CPT codes, they must be used only when the service matches the definition in CPT, and they must be used according to the rules established by and recorded in CPT.

As is true with each section of CPT, the Surgery section begins with “Surgery Guidelines.” Within the Guidelines section, one can find the “CPT Surgical Package Definition.” It reads, “The services provided by the physician to any patient by their very nature are variable. The CPT codes that represent a readily identifiable surgical procedure thereby include, on a procedure by procedure basis, a variety of services. In defining the specific services ‘included’ in a given CPT surgical code, the following services are always included (emphasis added) in addition to the operation per se…”  Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Ask the Codeheads | Leave a Comment »

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Dr. David Cockrell: Putting patients first through excellent customer service

November 19, 2010
 

David Cockrell, O.D., AOA trustee, believes his staff is the key to the delivery of the positive experience for his patients.

When David Cockrell, O.D., and his wife, Cherry Cockrell, O.D., started their practice 28 years ago, they had a long-term vision of where they wanted to be in 10 to 20 years. That vision included having friendly, knowledgeable staff to assist them in caring for their patients. Today, that vision allows them to successfully serve the needs of residents in Stillwater, Okla., the 10th largest city in Oklahoma and a state where optometrists enjoy a diverse scope of practice. Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in From the AOA | Leave a Comment »

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Salus University to establish endowed chair in honor of longtime public health champion

November 19, 2010

Norman Haffner, O.D., Ph.D., has contributed to the public health community through his work as chair of the American Academy of Optometry’s Section on Public Health and Environmental Optometry, service to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Special Medical Advisory Group, university instruction and other advancements.

With the start of its Master of Public Health (MPH) degree and certificate programs in November 2010, Salus University is working to raise the profile of optometry and other health care professions within the public health workforce. The university, which includes the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) among its four colleges, has a new initiative under way in connection with its new public health program: the establishment of the A. Norman Haffner Endowed Chair in Public Health Policy.

The A. Norman Haffner Endowed Chair in Public Health Policy is the university’s tribute to the contributions and legacy of Norman Haffner, O.D., Ph.D., whose name is synonymous with optometry and public health policy.

Dr. Haffner is the founding president of the State University of New York (SUNY) State College of Optometry and former vice chancellor of SUNY.

“Dr. Haffner’s leadership within the public health community provided an invaluable bridge to the optometric profession and vice versa,” said Anthony F. Di Stefano, O.D., MPH, vice president for academic affairs.

From its inception, Dr. Haffner was the chair of the American Academy of Optometry’s Section on Public Health and Environmental Optometry for a period of 23 years. Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Spotlight on AOA Members | Leave a Comment »

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Member Advantage Profile: AOA MasterCard® Credit Card with WorldPoints® Rewards

November 19, 2010

 Whether you’re shopping online, picking up groceries or booking a dream vacation, use the AOA Platinum Plus® MasterCard® credit card with WorldPoints® rewards from Bank of America.

 With every purchase, this card lets you earn points on purchases to redeem for cash, travel, merchandise, even unique adventures – your choice of great rewards for the things you buy anyway. Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Member Advantage profile | Leave a Comment »

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AOA’s major impact on 2010 election sets stage for 2011 priorities

November 18, 2010

With the election of John Boozman, O.D., (R-Ark) as the first Doctor of Optometry in the U.S. Senate, optometry was without a doubt a powerful force. AOA-PAC, hundreds of optometrists from across Arkansas and thousands more from across the country actively backed Dr. Boozman’s bid to represent Arkansas in the U.S. Senate. But, in other areas of the country, optometry had an equally powerful impact on Election Day 2010.

Concerned ODs and optometry students from across the nation actively supported other pro-optometry candidates for the U.S. Congress, as well as for governorships and state legislatures.

To view full election coverage, including U.S. Senate and House of Representatives races as well as a report from the states, read the “Day After Report” on the 2010 Midterm Election, by following http://ow.ly/38sqK. Additionally, optometry’s nationwide grassroots efforts were bolstered by AOA-PAC. For this election, AOA members invested more than ever before in AOA-PAC – nearly $2.0 million dollars – to back the campaigns of 329 winning candidates out of 363 endorsed for Congress (producing a 90 percent success rate). To view the 329 winning candidates backed by AOA-PAC, visit http://www.aoa.org/x11211.xml. Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Eye on Washington | Leave a Comment »

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Industry Profile: Transitions Optical

November 18, 2010

Driving Patients to Your Practice

Transitions Optical, Inc. is supporting optometrists by driving patients to visit their vision providers through promotions and educational programs that strive to promote healthy sight. 

Through the national Read the Green Sweepstakes, Transitions Optical and the AOA are partnering to educate consumers on the link between vision and athletic performance – while ultimately driving them to their AOA doctors for an eye exam and to earn the chance to win exclusive golf-related prizes.  Optometrists should remember that each time their patient wins, they will also win prizes, including a free trip to a 2011 Major Championship, a chance to play in the 2011 Transitions Championship Pro-Am or Transitions® SOLFX™ sunwear.

Alongside Transitions Optical’s advertising and public relations efforts, AOA doctors can also leverage this promotion in their practice by displaying complimentary promotional materials, available at www.ReadTheGreen.com. Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Industry | Leave a Comment »

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Essilor unveils first personalized ethnic lenses in U.S.

November 18, 2010

Essilor of America, Inc., announced the launch of the first personalized lenses available in the United States designed to accommodate the specific physiology of certain ethnic populations. The new lines of personalized lenses utilize Essilor’s breakthrough technology and are specifically designed to meet the unique visual needs of patients of Chinese and Indian ethnicity by accounting for the ametropia, facial anatomy and reading behavior of these patients.

Essilor’s research in Asia revealed that Chinese and Indian lens wearers have specific needs. Research and development analysis of more than 200,000 patients in the areas of optics, physiology and how people use their eyes and wear their frames revealed five out of six wearers in these populations have different measurements from the average values for pantoscopic tilt, wrap angle and vertex distance. Read the rest of this entry ?

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Giorgio Armani launches Frames of Life site, video

November 18, 2010

Out of a personal and intimate vision came Giorgioarmani-framesoflife.com, an interactive online project that enables the user to experience the suggestions and atmospheres of the advertising campaign, personalizing them according to one’s point of view.

The user can choose to “become a director” or “become a photographer,” creating a personalized video or an exclusive photo album, allowing them to experience life online that can then be shared through social media platforms. Read the rest of this entry ?

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Shamir announces new coating availability

November 15, 2010

Shamir announced that Crizal® Coatings are approved for even more products. Previously available on Shamir semi-finished products, Crizal® is now available to order with all Autograph II® products.

This new availability supports Shamir’s commitment to continue to expand its product compatibility and provide more choices throughout 2010 and beyond.

Crizal® coatings are anti-reflective coatings that when applied to a lens surface prevent glare, smudges, scratches, dust and water. Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Industry | Leave a Comment »

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